Return to Table of ContentsDEFINITIONS AND TERMINOLOGY
Apgar Score - The numerical expression of the condition of a newborn infant, being
the sum of points gained on assessment of the heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle
tone, reflex irritability, and color.
Birthweight - Weight in grams of fetus or infant at time of delivery (recorded earlier in
pounds and ounces or in grams).
Clinical Gestation - Gestation as reported on the birth or fetal death certificate as
estimated from the last menstrual period and the date of delivery.
Computed Gestation - The number of completed weeks elapsed between the first day
of the last menstrual period and the date of delivery.
Congenital Anomaly - Physical, physiological, or metabolic abnormality existing before
or at birth.
Fetal Death - Death prior to the complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a
product of human conception, with 20 weeks or more gestation and/or weighing 350
grams or more. The death is indicated by the fact that after such expulsion or
extraction, the fetus does not breathe or show any other evidence of life such as
beating of the heart, pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary
muscles. Heartbeats shall be distinguished from the transient cardiac contractions and
respiration shall be distinguished from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasp.
Infant Death - Death of an individual under one year of age.
Live Birth - Complete expulsion or extraction from its mother of a product of human
conception, irrespective of the duration of pregnancy, which after such expulsion or
extraction, breathes or shows any other evidence of life, such as beating of the heart,
pulsation of the umbilical cord or definite movement of voluntary muscles, whether or
not the umbilical cord has been cut or the placenta is attached. Heartbeats shall be
distinguished from the transient cardiac contractions; respirations shall be distinguished
from fleeting respiratory efforts or gasps.
Live Birth Interval - The period from the date of the last live birth to the current birth.
Live Birth Order - The number of children born alive to a mother, including the current
child.
Low Birthweight - Birthweight less than 2500 grams (5 1/2 pounds). Prior to 1979, low birth
weight was less than 2501 grams.
Neonatal Death - Death occurring to an individual less than 28 days of age.
Occurrence - County and state where the event occurred.
Perinatal Death - Fetal or Neonatal death.
Plural Delivery - Second or later delivery from a multiple gestation.
Plurality - Classification of a birth by the number of children born to the mother for a
single pregnancy.
Population - The total of all individuals in a given area.
Postneonatal Death - Death occurring to an individual 28 days of age or more, and less
than one year.
Pregnancy Interval - The period from the date of last live birth or termination to the
current birth or termination.
Pregnancy Order - The number of pregnancies to a female, including the current one.
Residence - County and state of usual place of residence. For births and fetal deaths,
usual place of residence of mother is used. Residence may be different than mailing address.
Underlying Cause of Death - Disease or injury that initiated the train of morbid events
leading directly to death, or the circumstances of the accident or violence that produced
the fatal injury.
VBAC - Vaginal birth after previous Cesarean Section.
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